MPV Commentary

The introduction to the Mission of the Twelve Apostles is found in the last three verses of Matthew 9, which parallels Mark 6:7-13 and Luke 9:1-6.

When Jesus called his twelve disciples together, he gave them authority over unclean spirits and power to heal every kind of disease and sickness. This authority was not just a grant of power but also a qualification for their mission.

The names of the twelve apostles are listed here, although they were previously mentioned in connection with their appointment (Matthew 3:13-19; Luke 6:13-16). The list is provided to emphasize their role as missionaries. In Acts 1:13, we find a similar list of the eleven remaining apostles after Jesus' ascension.

The first name on the list is Simon, also known as Peter (John 1:42).

Next are Andrew his brother, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who was younger than James.

Philip and Bartholomew were part of this group. It's likely that "Bartholomew" was a surname rather than an individual name, as it follows Philip in all three lists (Matthew 10:3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:14). This is consistent with the fact that Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, who was brought to Jesus by Philip (John 1:45), is also mentioned alongside Bartholomew in other accounts.

Matthew, a former tax collector, is listed as one of the apostles. His inclusion may have been intended to highlight his background and debt to Jesus.

James the son of Alphaeus is believed to be the same person referred to as Cleopas or Clopas (Luke 24:18; John 19:25). As he was married to Mary, sister of the Virgin, James the Less would have been Jesus' cousin.

Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus, is thought to be the same person mentioned in Luke's lists as Judas the brother of James (Luke 6:16; Acts 1:13). He is also referred to as "Judas not Iscariot" in John 14:22. It's possible that he wrote the Catholic Epistle attributed to Jude.

Simon the Zealot, also known as Simon the Kananite or Canaanite, was likely a member of the sect of Zealots before meeting Jesus (Luke 6:15). The term "Kananite" is an Aramaic word for "Zealot."

Judas Iscariot, from Kerioth in Judah (Joshua 15:25), betrayed Jesus. His name is marked by infamy in all the lists of the Twelve Apostles.